Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have done it! Virat Kohli has done it! Finally, after 18 years, RCB have bagged their maiden IPL title by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 Final in Ahmedabad.
After securing the win, Kohli was emotional, with tears in his eyes, and players and fans went absolutely berserk. But two former RCB players were also there on the sidelines—two legends who gave their all for the franchise during their time alongside Kohli: South Africa’s AB de Villiers and West Indies’ Chris Gayle. Kohli was seen celebrating and cherishing the moment with both of them. Seeing that iconic RCB trio together again made fans both happy and emotional.
While talking to the broadcaster, Kohli spoke about de Villiers, saying: “What he’s done for the franchise has been absolutely tremendous. I told him that before the game as well that this one is as much yours as it is ours and I want you to celebrate with us when we lift that trophy at the end of the night.”
“Because what he’s done for RCB is so very special. He’s got the maximum number of Man of the Match awards and he’s been retired for four years now. That tells you the impact he’s had on this team, on this league, for me as a person, our friendship,” he added.
“What he means for the people of Bangalore, to this team, to this franchise is something I cannot describe in words so I said, he deserves to be on that podium, lifting that cup with all of us tonight.”
De Villiers was seen standing just outside the boundary where Kohli was fielding. Talking about that moment, Kohli said: “Oh man, you know what was more special was having you right at the boundary line in the last two overs. And I told him, ‘I’m going to go. It’s too much to take.’ And when Hoff [Hazlewood] bowled that second ball and it didn’t go for six, they needed five sixes. I was gone. I don’t know how I held back the tears for the last three balls of the innings. But you know how it feels. And he [Chris Gayle] knows how it feels.”
Gayle, dressed in a red turban and RCB jersey, hugged Kohli and said: “Eighteen years, man. What a lucky number, man. You know what? I’m happy for you, man. And I am for you. And I’m happy for the franchise.”
Then Kohli added: “You know, for me, why it’s so special to is share it with these two is because I’ve shared my prime years with them,” he said. “And I know how much we tried to win this. And we felt we were so close a couple of times [in 2011 and 2016]. And we were such a good team. And we had that explosiveness in our team. But we could never cross the line.”
“And all of us have that hurt because we gave our prime years to this franchise. And we really, really, from the bottom of our heart, we wanted to win that title for RCB. And I promise you, this feels like 10 times more special just because of the fact that these two are standing next to us.”
“And it’s honestly as much theirs as it’s mine. Because the connection, you see, when they come to Bangalore, it’s not just me. When they come, you see how people love them. And they go absolutely berserk because they know and they appreciate that they’ve given their heart and soul for this team till the time they played here.”
“And they deserve it as much as I do. I know people are emotional and they’ve giving it everything as well. So it’s equally theirs too,” Kohli concluded.
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